A recent survey in Pakistan found that about 23.9 million adults use some form of tobacco, according to a story in the Daily Times relayed by the TMA.
So, working on the basis of a population of about 193 million, about 12.4 percent of the population uses tobacco.
And of the 23.9 million tobacco uses, about 15.6 million – or about 65.3 percent – smoke cigarettes.
According to the unspecified survey, 22.2 percent of men and 2.1 percent of women are smokers, with men aged 15-49 registering the highest smoking rate.
Health groups are urging the government to implement standardized packaging for cigarettes in an attempt to curb smoking prevalence, especially among young people.
They are urging the government also to ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, in line with articles 11 and 13 of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.